Cannot believe my little niece has just turned 19 – I can still remember holding her as a baby when I first got to Bahrain back in 1994.  Anna and I selfishly offered to host a dinner for her birthday and invite a couple of her closest friends so as to ensure she was with us on her birthday.  Nikhita fancied a Chinese meal and our challenge  to create a cohesive menu began.   We finally decided that it was going to be an all vegetarian affair as the majority and more importantly the birthday girl are vegetarians.  Anna also made a wicked mocktail which looked pretty as a peach and tasted even better.  I know chocolate cake is not exactly classified as a Chinese dessert but what’s a birthday party without cake!

Starter

• Vegetable spring rolls (store bought from Wing Yip)
• Singapore Fling Mocktail

Main Course

• Spicy tofu with vegetables (recipe from The Ultimate Chinese Cookbook by Linda Doeser)
• Mushroom manchurian (recipe from http://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/)
• Stir fried Chinese greens
• Stir fried noodles
• Spicy egg fried rice

Dessert

• Gluten free chocolate sponge cake (recipe from http://www.healthycookcompany.co.uk/)
• Fortune cookies

Here are a couple recipes if you are interested in trying them out.

Singapore Fling Mocktail!

What do I need to make it?

• 1/2 tall glass of cranberry Juice
• 1/2 tall glass ginger beer (root beer if you are American)
• 1 tsp Rose syrup (Roohafza)
• Crushed ice
• Strawberry cut into little pieces
• Sprig of mint leaf

How do I make it?

Place crushed ice on the bottom of the glass and pour rose syrup over it.  Pour the cranberry juice first followed by the ginger beer.  Garnish with chopped strawberries and mint leaf.

Spicy egg fried rice

What do I need to make it?

• 2 cups cooked rice cooled (used Basmati which surprisingly works well)
• 2 eggs beaten
• 2 cloves of garlic chopped finely
• 2 sprigs of green onions chopped
• 1 tsp crushed red chillies flakes
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seed oil
• Salt to taste

How much will I make?

Serves 4-6

How do I make it?

Heat the wok till its hot.  Add oil and garlic and stir rapidly (don’t want the garlic to burn and leave a bitter taste) for a minute.  Add the red chilli flakes and stir for 30 seconds before adding the beaten eggs.  Scramble the eggs and then add cooled cooked rice.  Add salt, pepper, soy sauce and sesame seed oil and mix well.  Add the spring onions and mix through.  Switch off and serve hot.